Officers hunt down headmistress after Indian school poisoning

By Harmeet Shah Singh and Tom Watkins, CNN

Updated 0135 GMT (0835 HKT) July 24, 2013

Deadly school lunch in India6 photos

Deadly school lunch in India – A woman rests with her child at a ward housing the poisoned schoolchildren at the Patna Medical College and Hospital, in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, Wednesday, July 17. At least 22 schoolchildren died in northeastern India after eating free school lunches that contained an insecticide commonly used in agriculture. Officials are investigating whether the poisoning was accidental or deliberate.

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Deadly school lunch in India6 photos

Deadly school lunch in India – Books, papers and dishes are seen scattered on the floor after the incident.

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Deadly school lunch in India – An Indian man mourns as he holds his dead daughter inside an ambulance, outside a hospital in Patna.

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Deadly school lunch in India – The deaths triggered violent protests in Chhapra, the headquarters of Saran district.

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Deadly school lunch in India – A grief stricken mother is consoled after the death of her son.

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Deadly school lunch in India – Villagers gather for a funeral for children who died from the poison.

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Story highlights

Nine-member team of officers formed to track down the school principal

Police intensify presence near her village in Bihar state

Authorities record statements from 40 witnesses, including child survivors of the July 16 food poisoning

Forensic scientists found monocrotophos, an organophosphorus compound used as an insecticide, "in the samples of oil from the container, food remains on the platter and mixture of rice with vegetables in an aluminum utensil," Assistant Director General Ravinder Kumar told reporters in Patna.

Monocrotophos, which is used for agricultural purposes, is toxic to humans.

The cook, Manju Devi, was hospitalized after eating the food she prepared, doctors said.

Devi told police that the headmistress did not heed her warning that the mustard oil used to prepare lunch looked and smelled bad. Instead, the headmistress insisted she continue preparing the meal, officials said.

An investigation found compromised hygiene and sanitation in the school, which was running from a single-room makeshift building.

Experts have said the deaths underscore the problem of food safety in the country, and have prompted discussion on how to improve national school food programs amid news that authorities had warned months ago of safety problems with the state's school meal program.

Authorities in Bihar -- one of India's poorest states -- announced that a committee would be formed to improve food preparation in rural schools.

The Bihar students, who were ages 5 to 12, started vomiting soon after their first bite of lunch; some fainted, authorities said.

According to the Indian government, nearly half of India's children are malnourished. Since a Supreme Court decision in 2001, government schools in India have been required to provide free meals to students younger than 13.